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Teens and Stress: What are they Stressed About? What Can Parents Do about it?

Your teenager is what you would describe as a "good kid," but lately she's been keeping to herself more, not talking with you or her siblings the way she used to. She stays up late studying, and she has a part-time job on the weekends.

A college student is feeling pressure to do well in school, hoping that high achievement will give him the best career opportunities. He loads up his course schedule and works a part-time job nearly every day. He's been having problems with his stomach lately, but the doctor hasn't been able to figure out what's wrong.

Teen stress runs across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Some of the common causes include

Pressure to do well at school

Problems in the family, such as illness or divorce

Problems with friends

Dissatisfaction with their bodies

Lack of self confidence

Feeling the need to be perfect

Changing schools

Teenagers who are under a lot of stress may exhibit the following kinds of behavior

Parents of teenagers can play a large role in helping to manage
their children's stress levels. A big part of that includes keeping a close
watch on children to see whether they are taking on too much, expecting too
much of themselves, feeling overwhelmed, etc. Gently guiding teens to de-stress—to
relax with friends, take part in enjoyable activities, reduce a hectic schedule—is
something that parents need to do if they see their kids becoming too stressed.

It's also important for parents to be good role models for their
teens. If you're constantly running from one thing to the next, working late,
taking on more than you can handle, it will be no surprise if your child adopts
that kind of behavior too. Make sure your teen sees you taking time to relax
and enjoy yourself.

Teenagers who are too stressed out need to slow down, period.
They need to eat healthy meals on a regular basis, get exercise routinely, spend
time with friends who are positive influences and learn to have a positive way
of looking at the world. For instance, instead of telling themselves, "I'm
so stupid, I'll never pass this test," they need to say to themselves,
"I don't know anything about this material, but I know that if I study
it and ask my teacher for help, I will do fine on the test."

It is easy to say how stressed out teens should make changes,
but it is not always easy to make the changes happen. Sometimes, you need the
advice of a professional.

When to get professional advice

Rough patches now and then are to be expected, but sometimes,
stress gets the better of teens and parents. It is time to see a mental health
professional if you are noticing the following kinds of behavior in your child:

Big changes in academic performance

Frequent nightmares

Aggressive behavior that lasts longer than six months

Refusing to go to school

Physical symptoms, such as stomach upset, diarrhea, tense muscles

Negative moods

Illegal drug and alcohol use

Threatening to harm themselves or others

Temper tantrums

Disrespect for authority figures

First, be sure to try to talk with your child to uncover the
causes of the worrisome behavior. It could be that your child is ready to tell
you what is going on. You can say something like, "It really seems like
you are worried about something. Will you tell me what is on your mind?"

Many times, talking with parents about their concerns can help
get kids back on track. Sometimes, a teacher might call you to discuss a problem
your child is having, and that can be productive too. You can work closely with
the teacher and your child to determine what is going on and what steps you
can take to address it.

If things do not seem to get better, there are a number of ways
you can seek help from a mental health professional. Your child's teacher may
have a recommendation. Other parents may as well. The counselor at school may
be a good place to start. Your child's pediatrician is likely to have someone
to recommend as well.

What Can College Kids do about Stress?

It might seem like kids who are in college should finally be
able to relax. They have been accepted, they are in—it is time for the
parties! But that is not always the case.

Pressure to get good grades, to work part-time or to get the most desirable internship can get the best of high-achieving students who think they can handle anything.

Symptoms of stress

It is simply not possible to go full throttle all the time.
If you keep going under intense pressure without much of a letup, you will feel
emotionally and physically tired and drained, and you could also develop physical
symptoms as well. It is not uncommon for stressed out people to experience

Problems with digestion

Stomach pain

Diarrhea

Sweaty palms

Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

Shortness of breath

Rapid heart rate

Muscle tension

You may also experience mental symptoms such as

Feeling distracted

Having a hard time concentrating

Feeling irritable

Feeling overwhelmed

One of the first things you need to do to help yourself
deal with the stress is to admit that stress is getting to you. That alone
can be difficult for people. You want to believe that you can handle anything
that comes your way.

Then you need to figure out ways to make changes so that you
will be able to relax more and simply enjoy life. For example:

Ask yourself how much time you dedicate to pursuing non-academic
activities you enjoy. If you have always loved to dance, for example, do
you ever do it now? If you like to go to museums, do you ever go to them
now? Do you ever read a book just for pleasure? You get the idea.

What about support from friends and family? Do you make
it a point to set aside time on a regular basis for people you enjoy?

What about caffeine and alcohol? Do you consume too much
of these? Do you get regular exercise, which can help relieve stress?

These are some of the basic ways you can help yourself relieve
stress. It can sometimes mean changing your schedule, such as easing up on
your course load, even if that means it might take you longer to accomplish
a specific goal. Making decisions like this takes maturity, but that is a
major part of becoming an adult and being responsible for your own health.

If you feel as though the stress is getting to you no matter
what you try, it is a good idea to see a counselor at your school's health
center. An objective person can give you insight and help you set priorities
and make a plan to manage the stress in your life.

One thing you should know is that, according to a study conducted
by the Kansas State University counseling center, more and more college students
are experiencing problems that are related to stress and anxiety. Being stressed
out is a pretty normal thing, in other words. So then the question is—how
well are you going to deal with it? Making a plan and getting help if you
need it are the best ways to start.

Source:American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; American Academy of Pediatrics; American College Health Association; National Institute of Mental Health